500GB WD5000AAKS Caviar Blue...not working right..?

[redblade8]

Hi,

Recently my hardrive isn't showing on the computer...It boots up and spins, but it doesn't show up on my computer/even in the device manager. There's no clicking noises or anything, it sounds exactly the same as when it worked. I've been using this drive for backup of my data and connecting it to my computer using a sata to usb connector.

So any ideas how I can fix it..? Thanks! =)

 

[ibshaw]

Assume you've tried the usual things - different USB port, cable ? Is the USB its only source of power - is there a power brick you can add ?

 

[Dwarf]

Have you considered replacing the enclosure? I had an old IDE drive that I put into an enclosure and connected it to my computer via USB. It worked fine for a while, but then it began to fail intermittently. Changing the enclosure solved the problem, as it was the IDE/USB interface that had failed. It might be that the SATA/USB interface in your enclosure has failed.

 

[redblade8]

Assume you've tried the usual things - different USB port, cable ? Is the USB its only source of power - is there a power brick you can add ?

I recently bought a new sata to usb, and it isn't showing up using that kit either, and I tryed all ports on my computer too...I also brought it to a computer sales tech? It didn't show up on the computer either, but using the same kit he was using, another hardrive did. He also said that the hardrive sounds fine, and it sounds like its reading and everything, so it might be that the circuit board randomly stopped working? He also said that if I could get another circuit board on it , it should work again...But then I googled this? And some people were saying this might not work because each hardrive has its own 'fingerprint.'

Dwarf: Have you considered replacing the enclosure?

Well, I bought a new kit if that counts? It didnt come with an enclosure, maybe switching to an enclosure might work..? I'm not sure.

Both the hardrive & circuit board look & sound fine though ( the same as I bought it? )...So I'm not sure what the problem is...or how to fix it...

 

[Dwarf]

It is perfectly possible that the on-board electronics have failed on the drive. The data on the drive can still be accessed if you replace this board with one from a known good matching drive - indeed, this is a method that data recovery specialists sometimes use.

Do you have another SATA drive that you can use to test your kit with?

 

[redblade8]

It is perfectly possible that the on-board electronics have failed on the drive. The data on the drive can still be accessed if you replace this board with one from a known good matching drive - indeed, this is a method that data recovery specialists sometimes use.

Do you have another SATA drive that you can use to test your kit with?

...I don't, unless I can take out my laptop's hardrive & plug it into my friends computer..? Or his PS3 hardrive, I can test my new kit with that..?

Do you know what I'd have to do to change the circuit board..? Or what circuit board is the best choice for my 500GB Western Digital WD5000AAKS? Probably the same make/model hardrive right..? Also, the computer shop that I bought it from programmed it themselves when I bought it...could this have to do with anything?

 

[kegobeer]

Exactly what did they program? Do you mean the shop put the hardware together, then installed Windows and the drivers and whatever software came on the PC?

What external USB hard drive enclosure do you have?

 

[redblade8]

Exactly what did they program? Do you mean the shop put the hardware together, then installed Windows and the drivers and whatever software came on the PC?

What external USB hard drive enclosure do you have?

I'm not sure what they programmed, I guess they programmed it to get it ready to be used? And it was a blank hardrive then, no installation of windows/drivers ever touched it, it was only used as a backup hardrive for my data that I later put on it when I got home. I also don't have a hardrive enclosure for it, I just always stored my hardrive carefully, & used a kit that connects it to the computer ( Multi-Interface Conversion cable kit for Sata & IDE to USB 2.0 ) Kind of like this one http://tinyurl.com/7jw2sx2

 

[GEWB]

Pop the cover on your desktop and plug in the WD5000AAKS then check your BIOS. Boot and see if it shows up in device mangler/Windows Explorer. If so, look to the external interface. If not, check the BIOS (again) and Windows settings then suspect the drive itself.

Regards,
GEWB

 

[redblade8]

Pop the cover on your desktop and plug in the WD5000AAKS then check your BIOS. Boot and see if it shows up in device mangler/Windows Explorer. If so, look to the external interface. If not, check the BIOS (again) and Windows settings then suspect the drive itself.

Regards,
GEWB

Mm, but the problem is I have only a laptop...would that even be possible for my ASUS N53SV..?

It currently doesn't show up in device manager either, nor does device manager refresh when it's plugged in via the sata to usb kit...

 

[GEWB]

Mm, but the problem is I have only a laptop...would that even be possible for my ASUS N53SV..?

It currently doesn't show up in device manager either, nor does device manager refresh when it's plugged in via the sata to usb kit...

Ah, my bad for not doing a search and finding that's a laptop. I understood it doesn't show up as an external device, that is why I made the suggestion (if you had a desktop) to try and eliminate one variable.

Not hard-and-fast, but down-and-dirty...

Basicly there are three devices:

A) Drive
B) Interface device
C) Computer
​

Condition -

A+B plugs into C
C doesn't find A+B
​

Test condition - Eliminate B and test if C finds A

Plug A into C directly
If C finds A, problem points to B
If C doesn't find A, problem points to A
​

Regards,
GEWB

 

[redblade8]

Mm, but the problem is I have only a laptop...would that even be possible for my ASUS N53SV..?

It currently doesn't show up in device manager either, nor does device manager refresh when it's plugged in via the sata to usb kit...

Ah, my bad for not doing a search and finding that's a laptop. I understood it doesn't show up as an external device, that is why I made the suggestion (if you had a desktop) to try and eliminate one variable.

Not hard-and-fast, but down-and-dirty...

Basicly there are three devices:

A) Drive
B) Interface device
C) Computer
​

Condition -

A+B plugs into C
C doesn't find A+B
​

Test condition - Eliminate B and test if C finds A

Plug A into C directly
If C finds A, problem points to B
If C doesn't find A, problem points to A
​

Regards,
GEWB

Ah, I see. My hardrive has been tryed with 2 different sata to usb kits, so it's probably the hardrive, and not the kits themselves.
Is it possible to plug it into my laptop directly? And then hook up my main hardrive to the sata to usb, boot from it, and see if I can get all my data?
And if my computer still doesnt find it...then maybe I can buy a new PCB for my hardrive? I saw some on ebay, though I'm not sure if putting a new one on would work ( not right model for it and such... )

So A = My hardrive in whole.
B = ? My Sata to usb kit?
C = My computer.

Thanks for the idea, maybe I can try it if I can get it to plug into my computer directly? Would that work?

Is it ok to unscrew the current PCB and see if theres anything I could re-soldier maybe..?

 

[GEWB]

Ah, I see. My hardrive has been tryed with 2 different sata to usb kits, so it's probably the hardrive, and not the kits themselves.

Indeed it is a good assumption (unless all three interface devices were faulty - not likely). Strong pointer to defective drive.

Is it possible to plug it into my laptop directly? And then hook up my main hardrive to the sata to usb, boot from it, and see if I can get all my data?

Not likely. The 500GB is 3.5" but most laptops drives are 2.5" so no the WD will not fit.

And if my computer still doesnt find it...then maybe I can buy a new PCB for my hardrive? I saw some on ebay, though I'm not sure if putting a new one on would work ( not right model for it and such... )

Try other things first. Find someone who will allow you to plug in your drive into a desktop unit.

Also, you could use a live Linux disk, boot to it then plug in your external WD and see if Linux finds it.

If all fails, then consider a replacement board for the WD. It must be the exact model as a replacement.

So A = My hardrive in whole.
B = ? My Sata to usb kit?
C = My computer.

Thanks for the idea, maybe I can try it if I can get it to plug into my computer directly? Would that work?

Correct.

The WD will not plug into your laptop motherboard directly.

Is it ok to unscrew the current PCB and see if theres anything I could re-soldier maybe..?

Not likely to find the problem visually. Soldering would be a nightmare unless you have special equipment ("micro" soldering under magnification) as surface mount components are not easy to work with!

Regards,
GEWB

 

[redblade8]

"Try other things first. Find someone who will allow you to plug in your drive into a desktop unit.

Also, you could use a live Linux disk, boot to it then plug in your external WD and see if Linux finds it.

If all fails, then consider a replacement board for the WD. It must be the exact model as a replacement."

My friend 'could' be willing for me to let me use his desktop...but I doubt that he would...XD

My dollar store has some cheap CD's ( they say they're also RW, but I'm not too sure about that... ) I can put Linux to that, boot from it & see if it works/registers something..?

Replacing the circuit board/PCB on my WD hardrive, it has to be the same model? How do I even know what model PCB to buy? My hardrive's serial number (S/N) is WCAYU7073204 & Model Number is WD5000AAKS-00UU3A0
( which is what I got from the western digital site when entering my serial number in http://tinyurl.com/77swtf4 )

What if I buy just some random PCB that says it's for the WD5000AAKS? Would it work, or not you think?

 

[GEWB]

You should use the same revision number as your drive.

Regards,
GEWB

 

[redblade8]

Alright. This one then looks good?
WD5000AAKS-00UU3A0 2060-701640-002 REV A pcb
I was looking at this one, and even contacted their support on it ( they have very quick support there ) Buying online can be iffy I guess, sometimes things can be fake/being sold as defective...So I hope that this goes ok..?

 

[GEWB]

If the data is important, give it a try as a last resort or send it to a professional recovery company.

Regards,
GEWB